Trigger finger rest for firearms



1958 T. J. FINNEGAN 2,365,127

TRIGGER FINGER REST FOR FIREARMS Filed Sept. 12. 1955 INVENTOR 5 ITHOMAS J. FINNEGAN I 64 57 W PM ATTORNEYS TRIGGER FINGER REST FORFIREARMS Thomas J. Finnegan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-halfto Robert Swan, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 12, 1955, Serial No. 533,731

4 Claims. (Cl. 42-69) This invention has to do generally with firearmsand more particularly with means for providing a rest or support on afirearm adjacent the trigger against which a person can place the endportion of this trigger finger to steady the same and enable him to moreeasily gradually squeeze the trigger.

It is well known that, in the use of firearms accurate marksmanshipdepends to a large extent upon the ability of the gunner to graduallysqueeze the trigger of the gun, since a rapid pull or jerk of thetrigger will adversely affect the alignment of the gun with the target.It is diflicult for even the experienced marksman always to graduallysqueeze the trigger. Apart from the psychological reasons for causing aperson to jerk the trigger, one reason why it is difficult to graduallysqueeze the trigger is the fact that there is no support or rest againstwhich a person can place the trigger finger to steady it.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide novel means on afirearm for assisting the gunner to properly squeeze the trigger to firethe gun.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a rest or support adjacentthe trigger and laterally thereof against which a person can place theend of his trigger finger to steady the same and enable him to graduallysqueeze the trigger.

A further object is to provide a rest or support for the finger of thenature indicated which is adjustable so that it can be fitted to theindividual.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type indicated in thenature of an attachment which can be applied to the trigger guard of afirearm.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and thefollowing description.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a rifle showing adevice embodying the invention attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1 with a persons triggerfinger imposed thereon;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the side of the deviceopposite that shown in Fig. l, the direction of the view being indicatedby line 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device alone;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing an alternate formof the invention attached to another type of trigger guard; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the device and trigger guard ofFig. 6 taken in the direction of line 77 of Fig. 6.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral ll generallyindicates a rifle upon which is shown mounted a device 12 embodying theinvention.

The rifle is shown provided with a lever 14 used for cooking the triggermechanism and for operating the shell ejection and advancing means ofthe gun. The lever 14 States Patent or face 21 which is shown as fiatbut need not necessarily be so. The body may be variously shapedrearwardly of face 21, the one illustrated being provided with a curvedand tapering outer surface 22 and with a flat inner surface 23. The bodyis recessed at 25 and provided with a slot 26 which extendslongitudinally or in a direction substantially normal to the forwardface 21. The recess 25 is wider than the slot thereby providing ashoulder 28 around the slot for engagement by the head of a retainingmember, such as the screw 30.

The body 20 is adjustably mounted upon a bracket des ignated generallyby 32. This may comprise the two complementary, plate-like members 33and 34 which are adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a portionof the trigger guard 15 in clamping engagement therewith. The members 33and 34 preferably present fiat inner surfaces 33' and 34 respectivelyfor engagement with the sides of the trigger member and at the forwardedge of these an inwardly extending lip or projection 36 which may becurved to the approximate curvature of the portion of the trigger guardupon which the device is mounted. The two members 33 and 34 are securedby a screw 40 which passes through a bore 41 in member 33 and is mountedin a threaded bore 42 in the member 34. Each of the members 33 and 34 isprovided with an inwardly extending boss 44 about the bore therethrough.

The body member 20 is adjustably mounted upon the bracket 32 by means ofthe aforementioned screw 30 which is mounted in a threaded bore 46 inmember 34. The body 20 is shown mounted and adjusted so that the face 21is approximately laterally opposite the forward face of the trigger 16.However, some persons may prefer to adjust the body 20 so that the face21 will be slightly forward while others may prefer it slightly rearwardof the forward surface of the trigger, this being a matter of personalpreference.

In the use of the device, the trigger finger which is shown in brokenlines in Fig. 2, is positioned so that the inner side of the end portionof the finger rests against the face 21. With the tip or forefinger sosupported, it will be apparent that the user of the gun may graduallysqueeze the trigger without any sudden jerking or pulling movement sincethe finger is steadied and has a support against which to worl. It issignificant that the rest provides a new fulcrum point for the fingerwith the result that the finger need no longer be pivoted solely fromthe second joint of the finger as has heretofore been the case. The restthus prevents the entire finger being jerked as well as enabling agradual controlled movement thereof against the trigger. It will beapparent that the finger rest described also can do much to prevent thepsychological causes of a person jerking or pulling the trigger, as byflinching or the like, since the user of the firearm gains confidencefrom the fact that he can place the forward portion of his fingeragainst a solid and steady support.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show another form of the invention wherein a fingerrest is mounted directly upon the trigger guard. Referring to thesefigures the firearm designated by 50 is shown having a trigger guard 51for the trigger 52. The guard is enlarged at 53 and provided with athreaded bore 54. In this form of the invention the body member orfinger rest device is generally indicated by 55 and comprises a memberof the same general shape as the previously described body 20. Member 55has a forward face 56 adapted to be placed in laterally spaced relationto the trigger 52. It also has a curved outer surface 57, although theshape of this is not critical, and an inner flat surface 58 whichintersects the forward face 56.

The body 55 is also recessed at 60 and slotted at 61 to receive a headedscrew 64 which is directly mounted in the threaded bore 54 of thetrigger guard. It will be apparent that the finger re'st body 55 can beadjustably mounted on the trigger guard so that it can be positioned asshown or slightly forwardly or rearwardly thereof to suit the preferenceof the user of the firearm and that it is only necessary to loosen thescrew 64 to make the adjustment and then retighten the screw.

The device is used in the same manner as the one previously described.

Although I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, Icontemplate that various changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as indicated by the claims andin this connection while I have shown the device as an attachment oraccessory for a gun, it is within the scope of the invention to make afinger re'st integral with and as a part of the trigger guard itself.

I claim:

1. A finger rest for a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard,comprising a body providing a forward face for positioning laterally ofthe guard and laterally opposite the trigger, a pair of complementarymembers adapted to engage opposite sides of the trigger guard, screwmeans connecting said members and adapted for securely clamping the sameto the trigger guard, said body having a slot therethrough extendingsubstantially normal to said forward face, and a headed screw extendingthrough said slot and threadedly mounted in one of said members.

2. finger rest for a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard,comprising a body providing a forward face for positioning laterally ofthe guard and laterally opposite the trigger, a bracket detachablysecured to said trigger guard, and means mounting said body on saidbracket, said means comprising a slot in said body and a headed screwextending through said slot and threadedly mounted in said bracket.

3. In a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard, a finger rest, andmeans cooperating with the guard for adjustably securing the finger restthereto to extend laterally therefrom, said finger rest presenting aforwardly facing surface which may be fixed in a position forwardly of,in alignment with or rearwardly of the forward surface of the trigger byreason of said adjustable securing means.

4. In a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard, a finger rest, andmeans cooperating with the guard for adjustably securing the finger restthereto to extend laterally therefrom, said finger rest presenting aforwardly facing surface which may be fixed in a position forwardly of,in alignment with or rearwardly of the forward surface of the trigger byreason of said adjustable securing means, said means for adjustablysecuring the,

finger rest to the guard including a member fixed on said guard,and'means on said member for movably supporting and locking said fingerrest thereon in adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS170,988 Chillingworth Dec. 14, 1875 1,703,464 Wilshire Feb. 26, 19292,063,476 Wilson Dec. 8, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS- 20,813 Germany Jan. 25,1883 136,976 Germany Dec. 30, 1902

